Peace-building seminar held for police personnel

Wa, Aug. 11, GNA- Rev. Fr. Clement Aanpengnuo, Project Co-ordinator of Northern Peace Building Project on Monday appealed to the Ghana Police Service to keep its personnel abreast with current happenings in crime wave through constant training.

"With the high emergence of armed robbery, and other domestic conflicts there is the need for the police to constantly upgrade their skills to met current social challenges", he said.

Rev. Fr. Aapengnuo was opening a three-day peace-building seminar for about 50 policemen and women at Wa on Monday.

He said laws and regulations on social justice and peace building should also be made available for police personnel to know their rights and responsibilities.

He said criminals were now improving on their tricks and activities everyday and wondered why police were left on the basic training they acquired during recruitment.

"There is the need for the police to know that force and brutalities do not solve our problems. They should co-operate with civil societies to use dialogue and mediation to solve problems", he said. He said with the December elections, police had a vital role in maintaining peace and to ensure peaceful elections.

In a speech read for him, Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister called on police personnel to rise above partisan politics and remain patriotic and nationalistic in their deeds and acts.

"Much as we are concerned, we should create a level ground for every political party to campaign with its manifesto and principles for every Ghanaian to choose the kind of leadership they want". He however cautioned politicians against provocative utterances that would undermine peace and development in the country.

The Regional Minister said although the police were doing their best in the region, they should tackle highway robberies in the area. Mr Reynolds E. Kwakye, Upper West Regional Police Commander commended the Ghana Network of Peace Project and IBIS, both NGOs for the sponsorship, which he said would help improve the skills of the participants.

"It is regrettable to state that some policemen have not had any training after their recruitment", Mr Kwakye added.